Thousands of Vallejo students dig into new supplies

To kids in Vallejo elementary schools, CC Sabathia isn't just some hotshot pitcher for the New York Yankees.

He's also the reason why, every year, thousands of students at the Vallejo City Unified School District get to come home with new backpacks and fresh school supplies.

"He gave us these backpacks because he wants us to have a good school year," said Truedell Minnieweather, a 7-year-old second-grader at Wardlaw Elementary School.

This is the fifth year that Sabathia's PitCCh In Foundation has handed out backpacks to every first- and second-grader in the district. Additionally, the Foundation giveaway included all 900 or so students at Wardlaw, regardless of age.

"The joy is giving kids the backpacks. The blessing is we're still here," said Margie Sabathia-Lanier, Sabathia's mother.

Sabathia himself was unable to attend, but spoke to the students through a short video clip that gave them gentle advice, such as respecting each other and listening to their teachers.

Each backpack included pencils, erasers, sharpeners, crayons, markers, a binder, folders, a pencil case and a New York Yankees activity book, donated by Blu Source/WBAP.

Sabathia-Lanier said 3,772 backpacks were given away this year.

At Wardlaw, children lined up in the auditorium to receive their new supplies.

Many made appreciative sounds when the video flashed an image of Sabathia with the World Series trophy, which the Yankees last won in 2009.

"I got my baseball signed by him at his game against the Red Sox," Truedell said, adding that he either wants to be a teacher or a football player when he grows up.

(In case you were wondering, Sabathia also was a star football player at Vallejo High School.)